Chapter 2
And So It Goes

Disclaimer:I don't Harry Potter unfortunately for me he along with all the other characters… aswell with Draco Malfoy sobs quietly in the corner O well at least I get to play with them for a while

Here it goes…

It was two weeks into the new school year and the episode with Draco had been on Hermione's mind the whole time.

She had tried to hang out with Harry and Ron as much as possible, but they were usually busy with their girlfriends, and Ginny was in a mad rush for a Potions test. But luckily, there was a trip to Hogsmeade today, and everyone would be free to let go and forget about school work until Monday.

Sitting in the Three Broomsticks with Harry and Ron felt like being back in their third year. Well, it was until Cho and Luna joined them, at which time Hermione excused herself and decided to walk around and maybe stop at the twins store and visit Fred and George. They had just opened another store a couple months ago and were currently working there until, thing are going "smoother" as they had said.

She started her slow walk down the street, stuffing her hands in the pockets of her robes. It was mid-September and the weather was getting colder. Hermione sighed, wishing
someone would rescue her from this endless spiral of loneliness she'd been traveling for the past year. It wasn't like she was friendless. Harry and Ron were great and so was Ginny, but it wasn't friendship she longed for. It was love.

Draco leaned against the wall of the joke shop, watching people go by. He was alone, for once. Crabbe and Goyle were suspended from the trip and Pansy had sworn him off, which wasn't all that terrible. But the loneliness consumed him, leaving him to think of his conversation with Hermione the week before. Why was her face so angelic all of a sudden? Why did she make him feel the way she did? None of it made sense. He looked up, and saw her coming slowly down the street, towards the joke shop. He watched her walking, her steps slow, and her head bowed down. Where were Potter and Weasley?

The three of them were like Siamese triplets half the time. But today she was alone, and she looked so sad. He felt an unfamiliar stirring in his chest as he watched her troubled features behind a curtain of shiny curls. She was almost in front of him
now, and finally noticed him standing there.

"Hello, Hermione." He said softly, pushing away from the wall. She shot him an odd look.

"You've never called me by my first name before." She whispered, her eyes softening somewhat.

"Like I said, people change." Draco said, staring at her full lips, fighting the sudden urge to take her in his arms and kiss her breathless.

"Yeah, but not you. You hate me." Hermione said, her voice tight.

"I never hated you," He said, his heart contracting at the word hate, "I never hated any of you. Not Potter, not Weasley. There are things you don't know, Hermione."

"I never thought I'd carry on a civil conversation with you." Hermione said, "But I think it's OK."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I'm OK with not hating you...ferret boy." She added with a grin. He laughed softly.

"Ahh, now that's just cruel." He laughed.

"No, you deserved it, and you know it." Hermione said. His laugh faded and he nodded.

"I suppose I did." He said, then thought of something, "What would Potter and Weasley think? You're talking to me? Laughing with me? It's forbidden."

"Well they don't need to know," Hermione said before she realized what she was saying, "I mean, it's not a bad thing that we aren't at each other's throats. But they'd take it badly."

"Yes, I guess they would. So would Crabbe and Goyle. Can you imagine?"

"Um, no. They're faces pretty much stay the same… except for when they see food." Hermione said with a laugh. Draco grinned.

"Yeah, they aren't the smartest duo are they?" He said, loving the small twinkle in her eyes. He let out a long breath, still smiling at her. Things were about to change.

A/N: I know short chapter… but I needed to get the point across… and we are almost to the hotel so I shall talk to you later…